Cuban comedian Luis Silva, known as "Pánfilo," has cast doubt on the sustainability of a well-stocked agricultural market showcased by officials in Ciego de Ávila, suggesting it won't last long: "Give it a few days," he remarked. While state media portrayed the event as a sign of agricultural success, many Cubans saw it as yet another fleeting state setup coinciding with President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero's visit to the La Cuba market in Ciego de Ávila.
During their visit, the leaders were greeted with shelves overflowing with fruits, tubers, and vegetables, all accompanied by astonishingly low prices—a scene many locals dismissed as a "temporary miracle." In response to widespread skepticism, the state-run portal Cubadebate published an article titled "It's Not Theater, It's Work," insisting that the prices displayed were genuine and not staged.
The article claimed, "It may seem like fake news, but it's not. It's La Cuba, the exception that proves the rule until it becomes the rule and not the exception." Despite these assertions, Luis Silva, the beloved comedian who has brought laughter to countless Cubans, countered the official narrative: "No. It's not theater. Give it a few days. When the bosses are gone."
Cubans continued to voice their criticism, viewing the event as a charade orchestrated solely for the presence of high-ranking officials. "How beautiful the lie looks when dressed as truth, how prosperous Cuba is! I don't understand how three million people have left a country that's supposedly thriving," one Facebook user sarcastically noted.
"All that because they're there," commented a local resident. "Normally, there's nothing, or everything is priced beyond what people can afford." Many likened the visit to a theatrical performance, with one internet user stating, "The inspections are acts of theater."
Others speculated that the purported vendors were actually government employees and that the crowd was bussed in to feign popular support. Criticism also highlighted the stark contrast between the official narrative and the severe food and energy crises gripping the nation. While the idyllic agricultural scene played out in Ciego de Ávila, millions of Cubans grappled with power outages, skyrocketing inflation, and barren marketplaces.
Understanding the Skepticism Surrounding Cuba's Agricultural Displays
Why are Cubans skeptical about the market's abundance?
Many Cubans believe that the abundance at the market is a temporary setup for the visit of high-ranking officials, rather than a genuine reflection of the country's agricultural situation.
What did Luis Silva mean by "Give it a few days"?
Luis Silva suggested that the market's current state of abundance is unlikely to last long and that it will revert back to its usual state once officials leave.
What is the reaction of local residents to the market display?
Local residents have criticized the display as a façade, noting that such abundance is not typical and prices are usually unaffordable.